In a clear warning shot to businesses operating in China, the country’s anti-monopoly chief said sectors which have an impact on the lives of ordinary Chinese, such as energy, telecommunications, banking and car-making firms, could all be targeted.

The announcement came from Xu Kunlin, head of the anti-monopoly bureau at China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), as he was interviewed on state television.

China’s new competition authority, established in 2008, has intensified efforts to crack down on monopolistic practices and excessively high prices for Chinese consumers in recent months.

This year marked the NDRC’s first action against multinational companies, after it fined South Korean firms Samsung and LG, along with four Taiwanese companies, for fixing the prices of LCD screens.